True Story:

Over a period of six months, I saw numerous physicians both orthopedic and neurosurgeons discussing my situation. I used to work in medical research and grant funding, so for me (and my back), this was a research project.

Along with my many back diagnoses and because of my scoliosis, I was referred to Dr. Good. He was considerate, attentive, intelligent and highly experienced. I had been having lower back pain that radiated into my legs. After diagnostic imaging results came back; I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.  I was a candidate for back surgery.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the results of my surgery. I am proud to say at my six month mark I am almost 100% recovered. I did as I was guided and worked really hard at physically recovering. I have always exercised and now I put my best foot forward (and back) to the test. Today I am swimming my normal 25-30 laps, plus water aerobics and other physical workouts. As a minor note, I am 73 years old. They say healing takes longer after age 60. I am proud to say, I pushed the limits and moved relatively quickly through my milestones.

Thank you for the wonderful care and giving me back my life. I am so thankful and blessed to have made this fantastic recovery with the help from all of your staff.

True Story: I was an extremely healthy 33 year old.  I was just a week away from competing in my second half Ironman and was at peak fitness.  In the past three years I had finished my first marathon, first Half Ironman and completed multiple sprint and Olympic Distance triathlons. Life was very good. Then out of nowhere, someone ran a red light at 45mph and hit my car directly on the driver’s side.  I had numerous injuries to my neck, left shoulder, knee and back.  Over the next four months, I went to physical therapy twice a week and things were slowly getting better and I was regaining strength, however my back was just not getting any better, if anything it was getting worse. I had severe pain in my lower back, numbness in both feet and a dropped right foot that was only getting worse.

Treatment: Anterior L4-L5-S1 fusion in fall 2010.  Within a week of returning home from the hospital, I was out walking a mile a day with almost no pain and certainly no numbness.

Today:  Before surgery, I struggled to walk more than 300 yards without severe pain and numbness in both feet.  I recently began training again and I am for the most part pain free.  I am up to 1 hour on the bike, 1/2 mile swimming and about 45 minutes on the elliptical. Again, a huge success!

The fact that I live relatively pain free and that I am back exercising and hoping to return to triathlons is the greatest gift that a doctor can give. I have my life back!

Are you a Spinal Champion? A Spinal Champion is someone has overcome back or neck pain, either through surgical or non-surgical interventions. We encourage you to share your story with us if you have successfully gotten back to the life you love. One single story can inspire, teach and provide hope for millions of men and women. Click here to find out how to submit your story, today!

True Story:

As a collegiate swimmer at Virginia Tech, my physical health was crucial to my success in the pool as well as in the classroom.  During the fall of my junior year, I began noticing low back pain as a result of prolonged sitting through classes.  I had to constantly readjust my posture while sitting because of the discomfort I was experiencing.  As my back pain became increasingly unbearable, my performance at practices was also affected.

The doctors within the athletic department ordered x-rays and sent me to a spine specialist.  An MRI of my lumbar spine revealed that I had two herniated discs.  I was advised to discontinue swimming to reduce my symptoms and focused on core stabilization, strengthening, and aerobic conditioning with physical therapy and medications.  After several months, I was not having the relief I had hoped for.  After undergoing a discography and discussing surgery with my parents, I had a minimally invasive anterior lumbar fusion.

After my recovery from surgery, I was able to swim competitively for all of my senior year at Virginia Tech and I went on to compete in the swimming pre-Olympic trials.  A little more than a year following surgery, I am able to run, bike, and do any other activities pain-free.  My advice to anyone suffering from back or neck pain is to seek treatment immediately.  Your neck and back health are crucial for your en

tire lifetime.

True Story:

After an initial diagnosis of lumbar pain had been successfully treated with injections two years previously, another bout of back pain occurred in large part from overly strenuous exercise and weight-training. At a point where my life and work were significantly restricted, I started looking for other options.  I narrowed my search for the highest rated spinal group in northern Virginia.  This search led to the location of Dr. Christopher Good.

After a more complete physical analysis (exam, x-ray, MRI, etc.), it was determined that I was experiencing disc protrusions amid the L3, L4, and L5 vertebrates, and that no amount of injections were going to permanently solve the problem.  Through the supportive encouragement from the professional staff at VSI, it became clear that surgery was the only course of action for resolving the severe pain I was experiencing.

On May 8, 2012 my surgery took 5 ½ hours of Dr. Good’s comprehensive knowledge and meticulous skills to rebuild the L3-L5 area with screws, braces, and other unique techniques and materials.  Being ever alert for potential physical anomalies, Dr. Good was able to conduct other repairs and adjustments to ensure an excellent outcome.

Within a few weeks I was standing and walking with a walker, with a cane in four weeks, and without too much support at all in eight weeks.  By the three month checkup I was almost as good as I had ever been and was taking walks up to a mile around my neighborhood.

Two months after my operation, I was able to take a flight to another state to attend my grandson’s graduation from high school.  The following day the family participated in a boat outing and some sightseeing in the local area – and I was there to experience everything the same as the others.  Currently, I walk for exercise regularly and do all that interests me in my avocation without any worrying about any impeding pain that might be immobilizing.

True Story:

I used to be active – an adventurer.  I was a competitive swimmer and could be found on some type of wheels when I was not in the pool. As I grew older, my adventures grew right along with me. I went skydiving, I bought a fun orange convertible, and I traveled overseas.  Then my back started hurting. After three years of ‘throwing my back out’, my adventures were over.  I became afraid to try even the simplest activities.

I hurt more often than not, so when it became time to consider treatments I was open to anything, desperate for help. I even tried methods I didn’t think would help. I was finally referred to Dr. Subach at the Virginia Spine Institute and provided a real diagnosis with real solutions.

In December 2011, at the ripe ole age of 29, I received the best Christmas present a girl could ever receive.  Dr. Subach performed an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) surgery with Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) and stabilized the area by adding a flexible rod secured by two titanium pedicle screws.  I went home from the hospital and was able to take a long, refreshing shower without assistance or pain. The next day I celebrated the most hopeful and happy Christmas with my family that I can remember.

The “little victories” just piled up from there. I left home for a date on the 30th – dinner with my doting fiancé – during which I left my walker in the car. I didn’t need it.  I felt great!  The point worth driving home to anyone struggling with chronic pain — There is hope!

I have said over and over again since surgery that I feel like I’ve been given my life back.  I missed out on the bulk of my twenties due to pain. I’m devoting my 29th year to getting healthy again – healthy spine and healthy weight – so that I can live my 30s like the real Megan… spontaneously and without reservation.

I will be active again – an adventurer.

True Story:

At 32 years of age, Officer McKnight suffered from both low back and neck pain and numbness that radiated down his right arm and into his hand.  He also experienced decreased dexterity and difficulties with balance.  An MRI of Officer McKnight’s cervical spine revealed spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord.

Due to his age and his active lifestyle, Officer McKnight underwent a posterior cervical laminoplasty from C3 through C7 which widened the space necessary for his spinal cord.

Following surgery, Officer McKnight stated that his pain level decreased to a 2 on a scale of 0 to 10.  His next step in recoverywas to pursue a work conditioning program to help improve his fitness and confidence before returning to work as a Sheriff.

True Story:

In my 2009–2010 high school freshman year, the pain became increasingly debilitating for me.  As I was growing taller, the plainly evident scoliosis (curvature), spondylolisthesis (misalignment), spondylolysis (stress fracture), stenosis (narrowing around the nerves), and other findings on numerous X-rays, CT’s, and MRI’s began to cause pain that increasingly took over my life.  I was interested in sports, played the violin, and was involved in advanced academic programs at school, but it was very difficult to do almost anything without substantial pain in my lumbar spine. In the spring, most kids my age were enjoying activities outdoors, but I was restricted and desperate for relief from pain.

I underwent an anterior L5-S1 Fusion in summer 2010.  Even though I felt weak and tired, my legs felt much better and I was amazed at the progression from day to day as I improved. I went home without any complications and on day seven post surgery, I was off all pain medications. There were occasional bouts of minor pain and soreness as I recovered, but I was so vastly improved and pain free in a short time.

Through the skill, great expertise, and compassion of my doctor, Brian Subach, I’ve been given the opportunity to focus on all the great things that life has in store for me. I look forward to finishing high school and heading off to college. From what seemed to be depths of despair from unremitting pain in my life before June 2010, I’ve found inspiration to study biomedical engineering and devote my own future education and career to try to help others through research and innovation. I hope that I might help someone in the future . . . and pay it forward!

Whether it is for leisure or as an aerobic activity, swimming is a great way to cross train or add diversity to your workout. Did you know that the pool is also a great conduit for people experiencing pain or recovering from surgery? Water serves as a highly effective environment for the post-surgical or acutely painful patient seeking improved mobility and pain relief. Aquatic exercise provides individuals the ability to gain movement in a gravity-reduced environment that will allow for improvements in strength and function and progress in recovery.

Less Stress:

Exercise in the water allows for less stress on bones, joints and soft tissues while still providing an effective workout. Patients with soft tissue injury, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or orthopedic disorders benefit from the buoyancy (upward force) of the water.  Working out in the water reduces the amount of weight the spine and joints have to support. Water buoyancy supports about 50 percent of a person’s body weight when immersed waist-deep and about 75-90 percent of body weight for a person immersed up to the neck.

Resistance:

Exercising in water creates resistance, which can aid in increasing muscle strength and stamina for people who have been inactive. It also helps maintain strength for those who are currently active. For an even greater benefit, resistance devices can be used as a tool to increase the resistance for greater outcomes.

Circulation:

Pressure from being immersed in the water facilitates blood circulation, which means your heart works more effectively. You can reduce your target heart rate as much as 17 beats per minute.

Who can it help?

Other diagnosis that aquatic therapy may help with, include:

• Depression
• Inadequate oral facial control
• Joint replacements
• Motor skill deficiencies
• Neurological issues
• Obesity
• Orthopedic injuries
• Perceptual and spatial issues
• Prenatal
• Rheumatology
• Sensory disorders
• Spasticity

There are many types of aquatic therapy available that may help patients to achieve their goals.  Some are very active and others are passive and meant to reduce the stresses on the body to generate a calming effect to reduce pain/tone. At VTFC we incorporate multiple types of aquatic therapies and principles to design and develop the appropriate therapeutic protocol to help meet patients’ goals.

Benefits of Aquatic Exercise:

• Balance
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary function
• Coordination
• Core strength
• Endurance
• Flexibility
• Muscle strength

In addition to the benefits of regular exercise, aquatic exercise provides additional benefits that should encourage you to think about incorporating it into your exercise regimen.  Ask the experts at VTFC if you have questions.

What is your favorite aquatic exercise move?

Spinal surgeons have the option of using external support for the spine as opposed to implantation of hardware. Much like a cast is used for a broken arm, braces are used for the spine, but are often uncomfortable, ineffective, and typically worn for prolonged periods of time. Internal hardware on the other hand, has become increasingly refined and sophisticated over the years and is the optimal choice for use in spinal surgery.

What is Hardware?

Hardware is defined as any plates, screws, rods, wires, or devices used to stabilize the spinal column during the healing process.

Various types and configurations of hardware have been developed to treat spinal disorders such as scoliosis, traumatic injury, cancer, or severe degenerative arthritis.  Initially large, bulky and difficult to insert, these devices have undergone thousands of improvements and modifications primarily due to advances in metallurgy (the science that deals with procedures used in extracting metals from their ores, purifying and alloying metals, and creating useful objects from metals) and biomedical engineering.  For example, the rods used to shape and correct the alignment during scoliosis surgery were initially made of stainless steel.  Steel is strong, malleable (permits bending and contouring), and cheap but relatively large and heavy, making it difficult to work with and often uncomfortable for the patient once implanted.  With the development of materials such as titanium (commonly known for its use in golf clubs) and metal alloys (mixtures of metals), the improved strength to weight ratio allows for a lower profile and implantation of smaller devices. These medical innovations translate to more comfort for the patient without sacrificing strength of the hardware.

Simply put, internal hardware is more effective than external bracing for the healing spine. Though the effects of bracing are primarily positive, they can lead to a loss of muscle function, due to inactivity and can sometimes lead to psychological addiction, so that even when the patient is healed and ready to be taken off the back brace, he or she feels dependent upon it for physical support. Recent advances in design and metallurgy have made it possible for surgeons to stabilize the spine internally with simpler, lower profile hardware that can often eliminate or minimize the need for external bracing.

What questions do you have for our spinal experts?